System and method for generating domain names and for facilitating registration and transfer of the same

ABSTRACT

New and improved systems and methods for generating and facilitating registration and transfer of available domain names. The systems and methods include and involve a data storage facility for storing at least one adjunct term for use in generating at least one registerable domain name, and a processor arrangement which is coupled to the data storage facility and which is configured to be accessed by a user system via an electronic data network, to receive at least one root term from the user system, to concatenate at least one root term with at least one adjunct term to generate at least one candidate domain name, to query a data source to determine if the candidate domain name(s) is available for registration and/or transfer, and to notify the user system of the candidate domain name(s) when the same are available for registration and/or transfer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to systems and methods used tofacilitate registration and transfer of domain names and uniformresource locators (URLs) such as those used to access content via theInternet and world wide web (WWW).

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Registration, transfer, and use of domain names and uniformresource locators (URL) such as those utilized to access content viaelectronic data network such as the Internet and WWW are well known.Network users utilize domain names (e.g., “microsoft.com,” etc.) inplace of numeric sequences (i.e., Internet Protocol (IP) addresses suchas 255.12.10.112, for example) which are difficult to remember and use.Typically, domain names consist of a root name or cipher followed by aperiod (pronounced “dot”) which is then followed by what has beenreferred to as a “top level domain” indicator (e.g., “.com”, “org”,“.gov”, “.net”, “.cc”, and other domains such as country codes, etc.).Top level domain indicators are used to logically separate ordistinguish content sources (e.g., commercial “.com” sources versusgovernmental “.gov” sources). Many domain names have been registered andtransferred which correspond to famous trademarks such as “ge.com” sothat consumers can access online content about products and servicesfrom well known providers (e.g., General Electric, etc.).

[0005] Domain names function as a result of their uniqueness relative tonumeric network addresses. That is, a particular domain name mustcorrespond to a single content source, thus necessitating theregistration of many different domain names. As such, domain names havebeen registered (and transferred) at an astounding rate. In fact,Network Solutions, Inc. reports that over five (5) million WWW addresseshave been registered in the last five years.

[0006] Prior to use, a proposed domain name must be registered (orotherwise obtained) with a domain name registrar such as NetworkSolutions, Inc. (www.networksolutions.com). Once registered, a domainname may be used to point to a particular content source (e.g., a WWWpage, etc.) residing on a designated server system (e.g., a WWW server).Typically, the mapping of a domain name (e.g., “ge.com,” etc.) iscarried out by a domain name server system such as a public Internetdomain name server system (DNS system) maintained by Network Solutions,Inc. and the registration database authority known as InterNIC(www.InterNIC.net).

[0007] Registration usually involves some sort of manual input of a rootname (i.e., the character string prior to the period) and the selectionof a top level domain name. See, for example, thewww.networksolutions.com homepage. Upon executing a script, aregistration service typically checks one or more databases to determineif a domain name is available for registration. If registration isavailable, a service will permit a user to complete an online form toperfect registration. If registration is not available, a service maysuggest alternate domain names which include the same root term (i.e.,the term before the period) concatenated with an alternate top leveldomain name. Unfortunately, domain name registration services do notfunction to suggest alternate domain names which may include terms notoriginally selected by a network user or content provider. As a result,a network user is often left to laboriously, exhaustively, and manuallyenter many potential domain names which ultimately may not be availablefor registration.

[0008] As such, many domain names have been registered by sellers andbrokers as assets which may be sold for more than typical registrationfees. In fact, the domain name sale and brokerage industry has become asignificant source of Internet related commerce. Many providers havepaid large sums of money to transfer, acquire and use domain names topoint to their content sources. One such seller of domain names iswww.raredomains.com which specializes in the sale of unique and valuabledomain names. Despite the development of the domain name sale andbrokerage industry, content providers are still left to eitherlaboriously try to select an available domain name or select an alreadyregistered domain name from a broker that may not be best suited for aparticular content delivery service, etc.

[0009] As such, there exists no convenient and efficient way for contentproviders to select, buy, and/or register domain names that best suittheir particular purposes. Thus, there exists a need to provide new andimproved systems and processes to automate domain name selection andregistration and/or transfer processes. To be viable, such new andimproved systems and methods must permit network users and contentproviders to enter suggested terms which may form the basis of potentialdomain names beyond mere top level domain alternatives which are in factavailable for registration, transfer and use.

[0010] The present invention addresses the aforementioned problems andneeds squarely and provides new and improved systems and methods asdescribed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention solves the aforementioned problems andprovides new and improved systems and methods that facilitategeneration, registration, and/or transfer of available domain names.

[0012] To achieve the benefits provided by the present invention asdescribed in detail below, defined are new and improved systems andmethods for generating and facilitating registration of available domainnames. The systems and methods include and involve a data storagefacility for storing at least one adjunct term for use in generating atleast one registerable and/or transferable domain name, and a processorarrangement which is coupled to the data storage facility and which isconfigured to be accessed by a user system via an electronic datanetwork, to receive at least one root term from the user system, toconcatenate at least one root term with at least one adjunct term togenerate at least one candidate domain name, to query a data source todetermine if the candidate domain name(s) is available for registrationand/or transfer, and to notify the user system of the candidate domainname(s) when the same are available for registration and/or transfer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURES

[0013] The present invention is described in detail below with referenceto the attached drawing figures, of which:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system in which domain names and, inparticular, those involving the concatenation of user-specified rootterms with pre-defined adjunct terms are automatically generated and,possibly, registered and/or transferred according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the registration server system (e.g.,the automatic data processing configured as a programmed WWW serversystem) shown in FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 3A is flowchart that illustrates the processes which arecarried out in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention to automatically generate, register and/or transfer availabledomain names in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0017]FIG. 3B is a continuation flowchart of the flowchart started inFIG. 3A;

[0018]FIG. 3C is a continuation flowchart of the flowchart started inFIGS. 3A and 3B.

[0019]FIG. 3D is the conclusion of the flowchart started in FIGS. 3A,3B, and 3C;

[0020]FIG. 4 is a flowchart that illustrates the processes which arecarried out in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention to facilitate receipt of at least one available domain namegenerated in accordance with the present invention, andregistration/transfer of the same;

[0021]FIG. 5A a screen shot of an exemplary WWW site that permitsgeneration and registration/transfer of available domain names inaccordance with the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 5B is a screen shot of a daughter page accessed via the WWWshown in FIG. 5A.

[0023]FIG. 5C is an exemplary electronic mail message that was sent viathe Internet to notify a user of at least one available domain name thatwas generated in accordance with the present invention; and

[0024]FIG. 5D is a screen shot of a WWW site that contains a list ofavailable domain names generated in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The present invention is now discussed in detail with regard tothe attached drawing figures which were briefly described above. Unlessotherwise indicated, like parts and processes are referred to with likereference numerals.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, depicted therein is a system in which usersmay access a domain name service and system and receive lists ofavailable candidate domain names based upon user-specified criteria(root terms) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. In particular, system 100 includes a user system 102 (e.g., apersonal computing system or environment capable of engaging in WWWrelated communications via an electronic data network, etc.), anInternet Service Provider (ISP) 104, the Internet and world wide web(WWW) 106, a domain name service and system 108, and data store 110 forstoring adjunct terms and, possibly, available domain name lists,InterNIC and/or other remote database systems 114 such as Internet rootzone files and other databases containing domain name information.

[0027] Domain name service and systems 108 preferably is configured as aweb server system that is capable of serving web content in the form ofweb pages to users such as a user who operates user system 102.

[0028] Referring now to FIG. 2, depicted therein is a block diagram ofdomain name service and system 108. In particular, domain name serviceand system 108 includes a processor arrangement 202, data storagesubsystem 110 (as shown in FIG. 1) and I/O facilities 204. Data storagesubsystem 110 may be logically or physically separated from domain nameservice and system 108 as shown in FIG., 1. Domain name service andsystem 108 is configured as a web server system that serves content inthe form of web pages to a user system such as user system 102 (FIG. 1).Additionally, domain registration service and system 108 may transmitdata to and receive data from remote data sources such as InterNICdatabase root zone files 112 and/or other remote database services andsources 114. The structure and arrangement of domain registrationservice and system 108 will be immediately understood to those skilledin the art of modern networking technologies.

[0029] The structural aspects of the present invention as shown in FIGS.1 and 2 are designed to operate together to facilitate generation,registration, and/or transfer of available domain names in accordancewith user-specified criteria such as user-specified root terms or nameswhich are automatically concatenated with pre-defined (adjunct) terms inaccordance with the present invention. The processes to carryout suchfunctionality are illustrated in a flowchart found in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C,and 3D, to which reference is now made.

[0030] Referring now to FIG. 3A, depicted therein is the start of aflowchart that illustrates the operations and processes that are carriedout within the context of the present invention to permit a user toreceive an automatically generated list of available domain names basedon user-specified criteria. In particular, processing starts as stepS3-1 and immediately proceeds to step S3-2.

[0031] At step S3-2, a user accesses a domain name generation,registration, and transfer web site via the internet (e.g., via a WWWbrowser application, etc.).

[0032] Next, at step S3-3, the user completes an online form requestingone or more root terms for available domain names. Such root terms willbe used by the domain name registration/transfer web site to generatedomain names and to check their availability against lists and databasesof already registered domain names. Such root terms are words specifiedby a user and will ultimately form part of one or more domainnames—e.g., if the root term is “tax,” generated domain names may be“moneytax.com/.net,” “taxmoney.com,” “ustax.com,” “taxtime.net,” etc.

[0033] The use of the term “root” is merely meant to describe userspecified terms and has no other meaning. That is, the present inventionmay be configured to accept a user's terms as terms to be concatenatedin any way to pre-determined terms (e.g., adjunct terms) found in adatabase and, for example, as leading and trailing terms. Accordingly,any use of the term “root” to describe user-specified term(s) is notintended to limit the present invention in any way.

[0034] Next, at step S34, the user specifies an e-mail address for queryresults to be sent to. That is, lists of available domain names andother correspondence from domain name generation and registration may besent in accordance with the present invention via electronic mail, webdelivery, etc. There is no requirement that e-mail be used as the solesource of results-oriented notification.

[0035] Next, at step S3-5, the user's root term(s) are concatenated withadjunct terms specified in an adjunct data base (prefixes, suffixes,etc.) to provide a list of candidate domain names. It is important tonote that the concatenation of a user's root term to terms maintainedwithin an adjunct term data base, in accordance with the presentinvention, may be carried out in accordance with many differentconcatenation rules. For example, simple string concatenation may beperformed, as well as search based concatenation such as thesaurus basedconcatenation of root terms to other terms having similar meanings andthe like. Accordingly, the present invention facilitates the generationof available registerable/transferable names not by simply concatenatingterms entered by a user, but by concatenating a user's terms with otherterms pre-stored within other data bases such as thesauruses, tables,and any other data structure containing additional terms for use inconcatenation. And such concatenation may involve characters such ashyphens, and any other domain permitted strings and characters. Theprogramming necessary to accomplish string concatenation, databaselookups, etc. will be readily understood by those skilled in the art;for example, PERL (e.g., V 5.003, etc.) scripts may be used to producestring concatenations as well as to perform database dips, etc.

[0036] It is important to note that the adjunct terms may be storedlocally by facility 108 (FIG. 1) or remotely in any form of datastructure and/or system that supports messaging to drive databasequeries and the like.

[0037] Next, a looping structure is started based upon the number ofterms specified in an adjunct term data base, or the number ofconcatenated candidate domain names. In particular, at step S3-6, eachcandidate domain name on a generated list is compared against internaldomain name list. For example, if ten relevant adjunct terms arespecified in a table driven database, ten or some other number ofconcatenations may have taken place so that the list of candidate domainnames contains ten or some other number of entries.

[0038] Next, at step S3-7, a comparison is made to determine whether ornot a match for the particular candidate domain name currently beinglooped upon matches any name on an internal list (e.g., database tablestored in memory, disk, etc.). If not, processing proceeds to step S3-9.Otherwise processing proceeds to step S3-8 where the current candidatedomain name is determined to be not available for registration andprocessing will loop back to step S3-6.

[0039] At step S3-9, a domain name system (DNS) lookup will be done todetermine if the candidate domain currently being looped upon alreadyexist in a root zone file such as one maintained by InterNIC root zonefiles 112 (FIG. 1).

[0040] Next, at step S3-10, a match determination is carried out todetermine if the DNS lookup produced a match between the currentcandidate domain name and other domain names already in use. If such amatch does not exist, processing will proceed at the top of FIG. 3C andin particular at step S3-11 thereof.

[0041] If a match does occur, processing will loop back to step S3-8 asdiscussed above and ultimately back to step S3-6 for evaluation of thenext candidate domain name built as a result of concatenation asdiscussed above.

[0042] It should be noted that the present invention permits andcertainly contemplates inclusion of brokerage type services in thesearch process associated with producing a list of available domainnames. That is, the present invention contemplates querying databases ofnames which match generated concatenations and which may already beregistered but which are currently For-Sale-By-Owner by a domain namesales (e.g., brokerage) facility. Accordingly, the present inventionand, in particular, any web site that incorporates the same may belinked to other brokerage type web sites (sites selling alreadyregistered domain names) to allow appropriate database (domain name)list queries to take place. Such brokerage type queries may be carriedout during any part of the process in which registerability and/ortransferability is being determined in accordance with the presentinvention. The database queries and dips necessary to perform suchbrokerage type queries will be immediately understood after reviewingthis patent document.

[0043] At step S3-11, a WHOIS type or similar query is automaticallyspawned against InterNIC files and/or other databases (e.g., databasesmaintained by InterNIC or other similar database authority) based on thecurrent candidate domain being looped upon. WHOIS type queries will beimmediately understood by those skilled in the art.

[0044] Next, at step S3-12, a determination will be made as to whetherthe WHOIS or other similar query results in an “available”determination. If the candidate name currently being looped upon isavailable for registration (i.e., is registerable), processing proceedsto step S3-13; if not processing loops back to step S3-8 as discussedabove and ultimately to step S3-6 for the next candidate domain name.

[0045] Accordingly at step S3-13, the candidate domain name will bewritten to an output or “available for registration/transfer” file orlog.

[0046] Next, at step S3-14, a determination will be made as to whetherall available candidate domain names have been processed. If thatdetermination is affirmative, processing proceeds at the top of FIG. 3D;if not, processing loops back to step S3-8 as discussed above andultimately back to step S3-6.

[0047] At step S3-15, an electronic mail (e-mail) message containing allavailable candidate domain names, if any are found in the output filewill be automatically generated and sent to the user via the Internet.Such messaging techniques will be immediately understood by thoseskilled in the art.

[0048] Processing ends at step S3-16.

[0049] Referring now to FIG. 4, depicted therein is a flowchart thatillustrates a process where a user can access an electronic mailmessaging service and receive e-mail messages from a domain nameregistration/transfer service. In particular, processing starts at stepS4-1 and immediately proceeds to step S4-2.

[0050] At step S4-2, a user accesses an e-mail messaging service such asone provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP), telecommunicationsprovider, web e-mail service provider, etc. and retrieves an e-mailmessage from a domain name generation, registration, and transferservice such as domain name generation and registration service andsystem 108 (FIG. 1).

[0051] Next, at step S4-3, the user accesses the web site referenced inan e-mail as containing a list of zero or more potentially availabledomain name candidates which have been generated in accordance with theuser's earlier specified root search terms.

[0052] Next, at step S4-4, the user is presented with registration andpurchase options relative to a list of available domain name candidatesprovided in accordance the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0053] Next, at step S4-5, a user may engage in online purchasetransactions to purchase and/or register available domain namecandidates. Such e-commerce transactions are well known and will beimmediately understood by those skilled in the art.

[0054] Processing ends as step S4-5.

[0055] The process steps described with regard to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3Dand 4, are now further illustrated with reference to FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C,and 5D to which reference is now made.

[0056] Referring now to FIG. 5A, depicted therein is a screen shot of aWWW site view provided within a WWW browser client (e.g., MICROSOFTINTERNET EXPLORER V.5.0) running within a personal data processingsystem such as personal computer or user system 102 (FIG. 1). Inparticular, screen shot 500 shows an accessed web site (i.e., a domainname generation and registration service and system) having the domainname (uniform resource locator—URL) www.whoisplus.com which is noted ataddress space 501. The content received from the domain name service andsystem is provided in browser content manifestation window 502. Contentmanifestation window 502 shows a web site view whereby a user may entersearch terms (root terms) 504 into an online form which the presentinvention uses to search for available domain names and to generatecandidate domain names. Additionally, the user may enter an e-mail atwhich he would like to receive search results e-mail correspondence fromthe domain name service and system. The user also may select, at pulldown box 503, the types of domain name formats that may be available.For example a user may want the term “tax” to appear with other termsseparated by hyphens (e.g., “tax-money.com”) or otherwise and, the usermay select a top level domain such as “.com” or other top level domains.Although screen shot 500 show only four (4) entry fields for searchterms (terms to be concatenated with other pre-established terms, etc.),the present invention is not so limited; to the contrary, any number ofroot terms could be permitted as a matter of design choice.

[0057] MICROSOFT and INTERNET EXPLORER are trademarks and/or registeredtrademarks of MICROSOFT CORPORATION. WHOISPLUS is a trademark and/orregistered trademark of RAREDOMAINS.COM, LLC.

[0058] Referring now to FIG. 5B, depicted therein is a supplemental website view 506. Web site view 506 is one of a web page that indicatesthat the user's search terms 504 as illustrated in FIG. 5A have beenprocessed to result in a set of available (registerable, transferable,alienable, etc.) domain names. A web site address is maintained ataddress section 507 and the content of the web site is maintained withinweb site view 508.

[0059] Referring now to FIG. 5C, depicted therein is an e-mail message510 received from the domain name registration service via the Internet.Of course, other electronic messaging systems could be used such asreceipt on personal communications devices (e.g., cellular telephones,pagers, personal digital assistants, etc.).

[0060] Referring now to FIG. 5D, depicted therein is a web site viewcorresponding to the e-mail message depicted in FIG. 5C. That is, website view 512 as addressed at address section 513 (as noted in thee-mail message noted in FIG. 5C) includes content 514 that listsavailable domain names which have been generated by a domain nameservice and system such as a domain name generation system 108 (FIG. 1).As noted above with regard to FIG. 4, the user may select a hypertextlink to register, purchase, lease, contact and owner, contact abrokerage, etc. in relation to one or more particular domain namesimmediately from web content 514.

[0061] The list of available domain names need not be viewed as a webpage. Instead, the list of available domain names may come in the form amessage sent via any modern communications medium (e-mail, etc.).

[0062] In the preceding discussion, registration of available domainnames has been mentioned as an option related to an available domainname generated in accordance with the present invention. The presentinvention is not so limited. To the contrary, references to registrationshould also be interpreted to mean that an available domain namegenerated in accordance with the present invention may be registered(e.g., such as via a domain name registration authority), sold such asvia a brokerage or other similar domain name sales agent, or otherwisetransferred or alienated.

[0063] Thus, having fully described the present invention by way ofexample with reference to the attached drawing figures, it will bereadily appreciated that many changes and modifications may be made tothe invention and to any of the exemplary embodiments shown and/ordescribed herein without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for generating a domain name and forfacilitating registration of the same, comprising: a data storagefacility storing at least one adjunct term for use in generating atleast one registerable domain name; and a processor arrangement coupledto said data storage facility and configured to be accessed by a usersystem via an electronic data network, to receive at least one root termfrom said user system, to concatenate said at least one root term withsaid at least one adjunct term to generate at least one candidate domainname, to query a data source to determine if said at least one candidatedomain name is available for registration, and to notify said usersystem of said at least one candidate domain name when said at least onecandidate domain name is available for registration.
 2. The systemaccording to claim 1 , wherein said processor arrangement is furtherconfigured to generate an interim list containing said at least onecandidate domain name, to format said list using a markup language, andto serve said formatted listed to said user system via said electronicdata network.
 3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein saidprocessor arrangement concatenates said at least one root term with saidat least one adjunct term by generating at least one string containingsaid at least one root term and said at least one adjunct term.
 4. Thesystem according to claim 1 , wherein said processor arrangementconcatenates said at least one root term with said at least one adjunctterm by generating a string containing said at least one root termfollowed by said at least one adjunct term.
 5. The system according toclaim 1 , wherein said processor arrangement concatenates said at leastone root term with said at least one adjunct term by generating a stringcontaining said at least one root term led by said at least one adjunctterm.
 6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said processorarrangement concatenates said at least one root term with said at leastone adjunct term by generating a string containing said at least oneroot term followed by a domain name permissible character string andsaid at least one adjunct term.
 7. The system according to claim 6 ,wherein said domain name permissible character string includes a hyphencharacter.
 8. A method for generating a domain name and for facilitatingregistration of the same, comprising the steps of: storing at least oneadjunct term for use in generating at least one registerable domainname; permitting a user to access a server facility via an electronicdata network; receiving at least one root term from said user system viasaid electronic data network; concatenating said at least one root termwith said at least one adjunct term to generate at least one candidatedomain name: querying a remote data source to determine if said at leastone candidate domain name is available for registration; and notifyingsaid user of said at least one candidate domain name when said at leastone candidate domain name is available for registration.
 9. A system forgenerating a domain name and for facilitating transfer of the same,comprising: a data storage facility storing at least one adjunct termfor use in generating at least one transferable domain name; and aprocessor arrangement coupled to said data storage facility andconfigured to be accessed by a user system via an electronic datanetwork, to receive at least one root term from said user system, toconcatenate said at least one root term with said at least one adjunctterm to generate at least one candidate domain name, to query a datasource to determine if said at least one candidate domain name isavailable for transfer, and to notify said user system of said at leastone candidate domain name when said at least one candidate domain nameis available for transfer.
 10. The system according to claim 9 , whereinsaid processor arrangement is further configured to generate an interimlist containing said at least one candidate domain name, to format saidlist using a markup language, and to serve said formatted listed to saiduser system via said electronic data network.
 11. The system accordingto claim 9 , wherein said processor arrangement concatenates said atleast one root term with said at least one adjunct term by generating atleast one string containing said at least one root term and said atleast one adjunct term.
 12. The system according to claim 9 , whereinsaid processor arrangement concatenates said at least one root term withsaid at least one adjunct term by generating a string containing said atleast one root term followed by said at least one adjunct term.
 13. Thesystem according to claim 9 , wherein said processor arrangementconcatenates said at least one root term with said at least one adjunctterm by generating a string containing said at least one root term ledby said at least one adjunct term.
 14. The system according to claim 9 ,wherein said processor arrangement concatenates said at least one rootterm with said at least one adjunct term by generating a stringcontaining said at least one root term followed by a domain namepermissible character string and said at least one adjunct term.
 15. Thesystem according to claim 14 , wherein said domain name permissiblecharacter string includes a hyphen character.